18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall
I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why
callest thou me good? none is good, save one, _even_ God. 20 Thou
knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do
not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother.
21 And he said, All these things have I observed from my youth up.
22 And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou
lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 But when he heard these things, he became exceedingly
sorrowful; for he was very rich. 24 And Jesus seeing him said, How
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s
eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And
they that heard it said, Then who can be saved? 27 But he said,
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28
And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee. 29
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that
hath left house, or wife, or brethren or parents, or children, for
the kingdom of God’s sake, 30 who shall not receive manifold more
in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.
In contrast with the penitent publican and with the loving trust of little
children which Luke has been depicting, there steps upon the scene a young
man, rich, upright, morally earnest, but apparently unconscious of the
sinful greed which threatened his soul and of that trust in riches which
might prevent his entering the Kingdom of God. In spite of his riches, his
youth, his position, and his power, his heart was not satisfied. He had
come to Jesus with the question, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit
eternal life?” Jesus at once rebuked him, “Why callest thou me good? none
is good, save one, even God.” By this reproof Jesus was neither defending
his own divinity nor denying his sinlessness. He wished to convince the
young man of his moral need. He intimated that the thoughtless use of the
word “good,” addressed to one whom he regarded as a human teacher, was a
proof that the young man had a superficial view of goodness. Judged by a
divine standard the young inquirer could not claim to be good, nor can any
man regard himself as righteous in the light of divine holiness.
In order to awaken the conscience and to disturb the complacent
self-righteousness of the young inquirer, Jesus now tested him in the
light of the commandments in which God has revealed his holy will. The
youth at once replied, “All these things have I observed from my youth
up.” Jesus now applied the deep probe which showed that the man had never
observed the spirit of the Law, even though he believed that he had kept
the letter. Jesus disclosed the real selfishness of the heart as he
proposed a supreme test: “One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou
hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come, follow me.” In this sentence Jesus convicted the man of
having broken the Law, the essential requirement of which was to love his
neighbor as himself.
Jesus promised an eternal recompense for sacrifice, and he offers by his
personal companionship the influence and power which will make the keeping
of the Law more possible and complete. No one can claim to be righteous
when judged by the commandments as interpreted by Christ. Our only hope is
to come to him for guidance and help. He will lay bare the secret
selfishness of our hearts, and will develop the spirit of love and service
which forms the essence of eternal life, and in heaven he will ultimately
recompense his followers for every loss.
Jesus does not demand that all who obey him must literally leave their
worldly possessions. In his command to the rich ruler he was dealing with
a specific case. He does demand, however, that each one shall give up
anything which prevents open, honest discipleship and fellowship with
himself. In the case of this inquirer the obstacle was his wealth. It was
impossible for him to retain it and yet to follow Christ. The Master made
plain to him that his goodness had been superficial and inadequate. He
showed him that love of money was the canker which had been hidden in his
soul. He plainly placed before him the necessity of choosing between his
wealth and the eternal life which Jesus alone can give. No wonder that
when the young ruler heard the stern requirements and realized for the
first time that he was controlled by his wealth, “He became exceeding
sorrowful; for he was very rich.” He kept his wealth and he rejected his
Saviour. He saw the possibility of eternal life, but he was not willing to
pay the price. He retained his riches, but he lost his soul.
As Jesus looked upon him in pity, he startled his disciples by the
statement of a truth which the scene had illustrated: “How hardly shall
they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” This was
particularly surprising to the Jews. They imagined that wealth was a
positive proof of divine favor. What then did Jesus mean? He did not
intend to teach that wealth is sinful or that private property is a social
wrong. He meant that riches may possibly keep their possessor from
Christian discipleship and that one who seeks to satisfy himself with such
wealth as keeps him from Christ can never enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus
even added a pardonable hyperbole, “It is easier for a camel to enter in
through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God.” One who would enter that Kingdom must become as a little child; he
must abandon all trust in self, and be willing to sacrifice anything which
prevents his becoming an obedient servant of Christ. When the disciples
heard this, they were astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?” Our
Lord replied, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with
God.” It does require resolution and decision and sacrifice, but God is
ready to supply all needed grace. His spirit can strengthen those who turn
to him in their conscious need and with a real desire for a higher life.
As the rich man moved away sorrowfully in his costly robes, Peter looked
upon him with apparent scorn, and turned to Jesus with the self-complacent
remark, “Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee.” The reply of Jesus
was not intended to encourage men to follow him in hope of gain. His
salvation is a matter of grace. We are not to think that by any sacrifice
of worldly goods we can purchase eternal life. However, the tender words
of the Master do remind us that a rich recompense will be received for all
that we may surrender in becoming his disciples. Even in this present time
one receives a hundredfold reward, not in literal kind but in experiences
which now satisfy the soul and “in the world to come eternal life.”